Cash register



Jan. 18, 1938. A. A. DICKE 2 x CASH REGISTER Filed March 26, 1927 3she-uts fiheet INVENTOR A LEN A. D/CKE ATTORNEY Jan. 18, 19358.

A. A. DICKE CASH REGISTER Filed March 26, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 lINVENTOR ALLEN .4. 0/6/05 WCM ATTORNEY Jan. 18, 1938. DlcKE 2,105,640

CASH REGISTER Filed March 26, 1927 3 Sheets-fiheet I5 INVENTOR Ag f/v A.0/6/03 ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 18, 1938 UNiTED STATES PATENT DFFICE2,105,640 oasn REGISTER of Maryland Application March 26, 1927, SerialNo. 178,576

16 Claims.

This invention relates generally to accounting machines and theparticular embodiment shown and described is of that class of machineknown as cash registers which employ differential devices fortransmitting the amounts entered into one or more totalizers and at thesame time into certain indicating devices.

One primary object of the present invention is to provide an improvedtype of dilierential mech- 1 in which the actuators are positively movedin both directions as distinguished from the type in which springs areutilized to operate them in one direction. The advantage of havingactuators positively moved and restored is that the correct addition ofthe amounts entered in the machine is insured together with their properindication and, if desired, their printing upon the record medium. Itbecomes impossible with this type of differential mechanism to opposeand prevent the full intended movement of an actuator as is readilypossible where springs are employed.

A further object is to provide such a differential device in a machineof the flat keyboard type.

Briefly, the objects just stated which result from the improved designare accomplished in the preferred form of embodiment herein shown byproviding two complementally movable slides, there being a pair ofslides for each denomination of a totalizer, the extents of movement ofthe individual slides being dependent upon the value of the controllingkeys which have been depressed. A universal operating member is providedfor operating the slides of the different groups, the arrangement beingsuch that the slides of each group may be stopped in different positionsfrom the slides in other groups so that the proper differential movementmay be imparted to each totalizer pinion by rack teeth formed on therelated slide. One of the slides of each pair is normally locked, butwhen a key in the group associated with any pair is depressed therelated locking element or zero stop pawl is moved out of lockingengagement with the slide to permit movem nt of the latter by the commonoperating member.

In connection with the differential devices it is also an object of theinvention to provide an improved form of aligning or correcting device,which gives the totalizer actuators and indicator setting devices afinal adjustment which insures placing them in the proper positions.Thus any misalignment that would otherwise occur, in the event thatthere is a change in the dimensions of the co-acting parts due to wearbyconstant use of the machine is automatically taken care of.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an improved type of keydetent mechanism which is simple in construction, but effective inoperation. Each detent is adapted, furthermore, to actuate the zero stoppawl for one of the pair of slides provided for the related group ofkeys.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improvedindicator positioning mechanism which is controlled by the positivedifferential mechanism. An outstanding feature of this phase of theinvention is in the employment of frictional driving means for rotatingthe indicator drums which are always turned in the same direction. Theindicator mechanism includes a series of stop devices each correlatedwith projections carried by the associated indicator drum so that as thelatter is irictionally driven by the operating mechanism theco-operation of the stop with one of the projections will stop theindicator in its rotative movement at a position in which it willindicate the value of the key depressed. The indicator setting devicesare so correlated with the differential devices that they are adjusteddirectly from one determining position to another during the movement ofthe operating mechanism. So also the indicators themselves are turneddirectly from one setting to the next but always in the same direction.By directly setting the determining devices as well as the indicatordrums from the position in which they were left in the previousoperation there is eliminated the jar caused by the sudden stopping ofthese parts as would be required if they were returned to a constant andnormal position during each operation of the machine. As a result aneasier movement and a lessening of the load on the machine is effected.

In the drawings and following description the improvements are shownembodied in a cash register of the two-motion type, that is, a registerin which the operation of a key predetermines the extent of rotationwhich is to be given a totalizer wheel by the actuator when saidactuator is driven by a subsequent operation of the operating mechanism.It will be apparent, however, when reading the description in connectionwith the drawings that the use of the improvements is not limited tosuch a machine, but they can be embodied in various forms in other typesof cash registers and accounting machines. It will also be apparent,that the indicator setting and driving mechanism disclosed can, with afew changes,

which will readily suggest themselves, be used for adjusting elementsother than indicators and may be used, for example, in adjusting typecarriers. It is not, therefore, the desire to be limited to anyparticular use of the indicator setting and driving mechanisms or to anyparticular embodiment of the improvements as a whole.

With these and incidental objects in view the invention consists incertain novel features of construction and combination of parts, theessential elements of which are set forth in the appended claims and apreferred form of embodiment of which is hereinafter described withreference to the drawings which accompany and form part of thespecification.

Fig. l is a transverse sectional iew of a cash register embodying theinvention showing a bank of amount controlling keys, the differentialmechanism associated therewith, the indicating devices for indicatingthe amounts registered in the machine and the driving mechanism foraccomplishing the registering and indicating functions Fig.2 is a detailview of suitable totalizer engaging devices and the associated operatingcam.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the indicator positiondetermining devices.

Fig. 4 is a view of the machine with the casing and keyboard removedtaken perpendicular to the plane of the keyboard and showing thearrangement of the complemental controlling slides forming part of thedifferential devices. This view also shows the arrangement of theindicating mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 55 of Fig. 1 showing thekey construction and the associated controlling slides.

Fig. 6 is a view taken along the line 63 of Fig. 1 showing particularlythe zero stop and its relationship to one of the controlling slides.

Fig. '7 is a view in side elevation showing the action of thedifferential devices when a key in a bank is depressed and the machineis partially operated.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 for showing the action of thedifferential device when no key in a bank is depressed and the machineis partially operated.

Fig. 9 is a detail of the key releasing mechanism.

Generally described the illustrative machine includes the followingprincipal mechanisms: a driving mechanism, a keyboard, a differentialmechanism, a totalizer for accumulating the amounts entered and anindicating mechanism for indicating the transactions as they occur inthe machine.

The driving mechanism comprises an operating handle having gearconnections to parallel driving shafts, one of which is adapted tooperate the differential devices, one the indicating devices, and theremaining shaft to control the registering mechanism.

For controlling the operation of the differential devices a series ofamount determining devices in the form of depressible keys are provided,suit able detent mechanism being provided to retain them in theirdepressed position during operations of the machine. As is usual in thistype of machine the keys are arranged in a plurality of banks, each bankbeing provided with nine keys. It will be understood that while onlyamount keys are disclosed in the drawings a machine en bodying thepresent invention may be equipped with clerks keys and transaction ordepartment keys as well, in which case similar connections to thoseprovided for the amount keys will be provided for performing thefunctions usually performed by such keys, as controlling suitableindicators, printing mechanism, counter control mechanism, and the like.

In the illustrative machine the construction of the keys and theassociated key detent mechanism is identical for the variousdenominational banks of keys and a description of one will be taken asrepresentative of the various groups. As best shown in Fig. 5, each ofthe key frames 20 is preferably in the form of a channel bar and issuitably slotted so as to receive the stems of the keys 2l, the upperends of which are provided witth heads so that the keys may beconveniently depressed. Each of the key frames is held in fixed positionand supported at its upper end by means of circumferentially slottedrods 22 (Figs. 1 and 8) engaging a notch formed in the end of thevertical portion of the channel bar. At its lower end each channel isprovided with a notch in the vertical Wall which cooperates with a crossrod 22!. Slidably mounted in the key frames 20 by means of slotted lugs23 (Fig. 5 and 8) extending from the side of each channel frame and bymeans of slotted screws 24 also carried by the frame, is a detent plate25. Each detent plate is provided with a pltuality of hooked portions 26and as best shown in Fig. 5, each detent 25 projects through theopenings 2'! formed in the keys of a related bank so that when a key isdepressed against the action of a restoring spring 29 (Fig. 5) thedetent plate will be moved in one direction against the resistance of aspring 30 (Fig. 8) and when the operated key is depressed sufficientlyone of the hooked portions will engage an opening 3| formed in the stemof the depressed key. By reason of this construction when a key isdepressed it will be held in its depressed position so that the lowerportion of the key may control the differential device associated withthat bank.

Located beneath the key channel frame just described are a pair ofsupporting bars 32 (Fig. 8) attached to which are slotted plates 33which form the guiding means for a series of controlling slides 34. Asbest shown in Figs. 4 and 5 each controlling slide 34 is provided with aseries of upstanding projections designated generally by key in each isadapted to represent a unit amount, while the uppermost key of eachgroup is adapted to represent values of nine units. The projectiondesignated 360 (Fig. 1) has its straight edge in substantially the sameline as the adjacent side of the "9 key while the projection 361 isnormally a distance of one unit away from its related or the 8 key, andof the remaining projections it will be noted that the projections 36are a number of units away from their correlated keys corresponding totheir subscript designations. The result of this is that when thelowermost or 1 key is depressed the co-action of the stem of the keywith the projection 368 will permit the controlling slide 34 to be givena movement of eight units, and in each instance the movement of theslide with respect to the key depressed is the nines complement of thevalue of the associated key.

The projections 35 are adapted to co-operate with integral extensions 3!(Fig. 5) formed on the lower end of each of the key stems 21 it beingnoted that the extensions of the different keys are either, in alignmentwith the projections 36 which are in the plane of the plate 34 or withthe projections which are bent away from the plane of the plate, so thatin this way the projections 31 of the different keys are alsoalternately arranged in one of the two positions to the right of thecenter of the key as viewed in Fig. 5.

The reason for having the integral extensions on the key stemsalternately disposed is due to the fact that it is desirable to have themaximum movement which can be imparted to the plate 34 greater than thedistance between two adjacent keys. For example, if all the projectionson the plate 34 and all the integral extensions 31 of the keys 2! werein the same plane for a denominational group of keys, it will be clearthat when the lowest or 1 key (Fig. l) is depressed and the slide 34moved upwardly until the projection 36a cooperates with the extension3'! of the depressed key the projection 367 must pass the extension ofthe depressed key and this movement would not be possible if theprojection 367 of the slide was in alignment with the extension 31 ofthe 1'key. Instead of permitting the slide 34 to be moved until theprojection 38s coacted with the stem of the 1 key the projection 367would first coact with the stem of this key if the alternate arrangementwere not adopted. By this construction the keys may be spaced moreclosely, thus providing a small easily operated keyboard, while at thesame time permitting of large movements of the internal parts whichreduces the effect of structural variations and permit of largertolerances in manufacture.

Mounted adjacent each slide 34 is a companion controlling slide 38provided with rectangular notches through which the guiding andsupporting bars 32 and plates 33 also project so that this slide ismounted just as the slide 34. The slide 38 is similar to the slide 34but is adapted to be moved amounts complemental and in a directionreverse to the movement imparted to the slide 34 and therefore it ismoved to an amount commensurate with the value of the key depressed. Theslide 38 is provided with projections 391 to 398 (Fig. 4) which arearranged in a manner similar to the projections 36 on the slide 34 thatis, alternate ones are bent out of the plane of the slide 38, thesubscript denoting the distance in units that the projection andtherefore the slide may be moved before the straight edge of theprojection co-acts with the stem of its related key. Referring to Fig.it will be noted that the stems of the keys are also provided withintegral extensions 49, 40 adapted to cooperate with their relatedprojections, these being arranged alternately between two positionssimilar to the extensions 31, 37.

It will be observed in the preferred embodiment that no projections areprovided to cooperate with the keys to control the movement of eitherthe slide 34 or 38 equivalent to nine steps. If so desired the necessaryprojections may be provided, but in the machine shown the rectangularslots formed in the slides 34 and 38 cooperating with the bars 32 areutilized to limit the movement of the slides to an extent equivalent tonine steps of movement.

The power for operating the machine may be provided by any prime moversuch as electric motor, or as shown in the illustrative machine it maybe supplied by a crank handle 4! (Fig. 1) The crank rotates a gear 42meshingwith a gear 43, the gearing being so arranged that two rotationsof the crank will effect a complete rotation of the gear 43 and theshaft 44 to which the gear is attached. Attached to the shaft 44 is apair of box cams 45 the cam races of which cooperate with rollerscarried by the rearward extensions 45 of a pair of arms 47 (Fig. i)loosely pivoted on a rod 53, and which are connected together by a crossrod 48 thus forming a frame. The box cams are arranged so that duringeach operation of the machine the frame will be rocked to operate thedifferential devices of the machine.

The rod 48 may carry a number of rollers 48| (Figs. 4 and 5) suitablyspaced by means of collars 4232 and the rollers preferably pass throughand cooperate with slots i!) formed in each of a series of cam plates 50each of which is connected at one end to its respective slide. 34 by apivot pin 5i. At the other end each cam plate 59 is provided with ahooked portion 52 normally engaging the rod As just stated the rod 48passes through the slots 42: formed in all the cam plates 53 so thatupon each rocking movement of the frame the slides 3 5 will, bymechanism about to be described, all be moved upwardly until theprojections 35 abut the stems of the depressed keys of the variousbanks, or if no key is depressed in certain banks, until the ends of therectangular slots in the slides 34 for those banks co-act with the bars32.

I Each cam plate fit is provided with a slot which is comprised of a camportion 54 and a dwell portion 55 at each end concentric with respect topivot 5i and which co-operates with a stud 5-5 carried by a downwardextension 5'1 integral with the slide 38. The slide 3% is normallylocked against a downward movement by means of a triple-armed pivotedzero stop 53 which is spring urged so that a pin 55% carried by one armcoacts with one end of the detent plate 25, another arm being providedwith a lug Gil normally engaging the projection 398 of the slide 38.

The operation of the above described mecha nism when no key in a bank isdepressed is as follows: Since no key has been depressed the zero stop58 will remain in its normal position and will hold the slide 38 againstany downward movement. Now when the crank handle 4! is turned the gear42 will drive the gear 3 thereby rotating the shaft 4. The box cam 45will rock the rod 4t upwardly and by its co-operation with the slot willrock the cam plate about the pin 5i from the position shown in Fig. 1 tothe position shown in 8, it being noted that very early in the movementof the plate 58 the hooked portion 52 is disengaged from the rod 53 andduring the operation is carried a considerable distance away from thelatter. Since the slide 38 is locked against movement the co-operationof the slot 54 with the pin 56 will result in forcing the cam plate 50rearwardly and upwardly and it will in turn draw the slide 34 upwardlyuntil it assumes the position shown in Fig. 8 wherein it will be notedthat the ends of the rectangular slots formed in the slide 34 haveco-acted with the supporting bars 32 thus indicating that the slide 34has received the maximum, or nine steps of movement.

If. on the other hand, the registration and indication of a certaindenominational group should be five the 5 key in that particular groupis de pressed and will be retained in its depressed position by means ofthe detent mechanism previously described. It will be noted,furthermore, that when the 5'keyis depressed the detent plate 25co-acting with the pin 59 will rock the zero stop 58 so as to disengagethe lug 60 from the projection 39a of the slide 38 (Figs. 1 and 7). Uponan operation of the crank handle the bar 48 will be lifted as before sothat the slide 34 will also be moved upwardly and rearwardly aspreviously described, but since in this instance the slide 38 isunlocked for operation, the co-operation of the cam slot 54 with the pin56 will also force the slide 38 downwardly or in a direction reverse tothe movement imparted to the slide 34 and while the slide 34 will,during its movement, be stopped when the projection 36; strikes one sideof the stem of the 5 key, the slide 38 will be moved in the reversedirection until its projection 395 strikes the opposite side of thedepressed key (see Fig. 7). When both projections are in co-operationwith the key the slides will be held, it being noted that during thisoperation the slide 38 has received five steps of movement commensuratewith the key depressed, while the slide 34 on the other hand hasreceived four steps of movement which is the complement of the value ofthe key depressed. During the second period of the cycle of operation,the rod 48 will be moved downwardly to the position shown in Fig. 1,thereby imparting a reverse movement to both the slides 34 and 33 andbringing the parts to their normal positions. As the slide 50 approachesits normal position the hook 52 will again engage the rod 53 and toprovide for the proper restoration of the parts, the hook is providedwith camming edges 52l and 522 on opposite sides of the opening adaptedto engage the rod 53 if the parts are slightly out of alignment and by acamming action to positively force the plates 34 and 38 to their normalpositions. This construction insures greater accuracy of operation whilereducing the required accuracy in the manufacture of the parts.

Any suitable means may be provided to actuate the key detent 25 at theend of the operation of the machine to disengage the hooked portion 26from the notch 2'! so that the depressed key will be unlocked andreleased for a subsequent depression. The specific means disclosed forthis purpose, as best shown in Fig. 9, comprises a cam disc 26! securedto the shaft 14 which is rotated by the operating crank throughconnections which will be described later. A suitable race or cam grooveis formed in the disc 26i and this groove cooperates with a pin orroller carried by a bell crank 262 loosely mounted on a rod 10. Theupper arm of this bell crank carries a cross rod 263 which is supportedat its opposite end by an arm similar to 262 mounted on the rod 10.Cross rod 253 is in line with and only slightly removed from the lowerends 25l of the detents 25 and as the shaft 14 is rotated,counterclockwise, the bell crank 262 will be rocked clockwise toward theend of the operation and rod 263 will force all of the detents 25!rearwardly to release the depressed keys.

Since the slide 38 is adapted to receive movements commensurate with thevalue of keys depressed, the illustrative machine is provided with meansfor actuating suitable registering mechanism and for this purpose theforward portion of the slide 38 is provided with rack teeth 65 (Fig. 1)adapted to cooperate with a pinion 66 attached to a totalizer element61. The totalizer pinions and totalizer elements, of each of which thereis one for each denominational order, are carried by a pivoted frame 58(Fig. 2) which may be rocked at the desired time so as to bring thetotalizer pinions 66 into and out of engagement with the totalizeroperating racks 65, and in the embodiment herein shown this mechanismcomprises a bell crank or cam plate 69 pivoted upon a fixed shaft 70,one arm of the bell-crank being provided with a roller engaging the raceof a box cam Ill, while the other arm of the plate is provided with acam slot 12 engaging the shaft 13 which supports the totalizer pinionsand elements. A full revolution is imparted to the shaft 14 whichcarries the cam H by means of the train of mechanism comprising the gearl5 attached to the shaft '14 meshing with a gear 16, the latter in turnmeshing with a gear T! which is geared to the gear 42 previouslydescribed. The totalizer pinions may be rocked into mesh with theoperating racks 65 previous to any movement of the slides 33, or, if sodesired, the totalizer pinions may be meshed with the operating racksjust prior to the time that the slides 38 are restored to their normalpositions since in either case the slides 38 are moved amountcommensurate with the keys depressed. As illustrated, the form of therace in the cam H is such as to cause engagement of the totalizer afterthe slides have been moved and just prior to their return movement.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 2, and 7 it will be noted that theearns 45 and "H are so formed as to divide a cycle of operation intothree substantially equal periods. During the first period earn 45operates the bar 48 as described to produce differential movement of theslides 34 and 38, while during the second period the bar 48 is restoredand during the final period there is a dwell so that the bar and allparts of the differential mechanism are held stationary. Cam 'H on theother hand has a dwell or idle movement during the first and thirdperiods but is active during the second period to engage the totalizerwith the actuators and at the end of this period or the beginning of thethird period to disengage these parts.

The purpose of the idle portions in the third period for both cams is toallow time for the operation of suitable transfer mechanism. Anymechanism suited to this purpose may be provided and one form which isparticularly adapted to the mechanism shown is that disclosed in theFuller application 5. N. 263,125, filed November 19, 1918, United StatesPatent No. 1,742,701, issued January 7, 1930. In accordance with thisdisclosure suitable elements are partially rotated upon passage ofwheels of lower order from nine to zero and subsequently after thetotalizer is disengaged from the actuators a series of complemental camsill! acting seriatim upon bell cranks I08 serve to complete the transferaction into the higher order wheels. For further details of this oneform of transfer mechanism which is suitable for the purpose, referencemay be had to the disclosure of the Fuller application mentioned or tothe corresponding French Patent No. 533,459 published March 3, 1922.

Due to the fact that in manufacturing operations the dimensions ofcomponent parts may vary, and also to offset inaccuracies due to wear,it is desirable to provide a correcting device to insure as nearly aspossible that the slides 34 and 38 receive the proper differentialmovement. The deviation from the proper degree of movement may be causedby the varying dimensions of the projections on the slides 34 and 38,the inaccuracies in the dimensions of the key stems and variations dueto the wear of the parts by constant use of the machine. To correct anyerrors that might occur, suitable aligning devices may be employed. Thismay be done very conveniently by providing the upper end of the camplate 58 with one or more aligning teeth '18 which near their extremeupward position are adapted to coopcrate with aligning slots 19 formedin a corrooting plate 8%. The latter is attached to the key frame 20 byscrews 8| passing through clongated slots 82 formed in the plate to andinto the key frame.

Theoretically, if the dimensions of the various parts were correct theseries of teeth 18 would always cooperate with associated. slots it butany change in the dimensions of the cooperating parts will cause thealigning teeth is to assume a position to one side or the other of thecenter lines of the slots 19. tionship does not exist it will be obviousthat when the cam plate 56 receives its extreme upward movement thealigning teeth '18 will be slightly cit center with respect to thealigning slots 19 but on being forced in there will be a (Jamming actionthus shifting the cam plate EB and the slides 34 and 38 so that theywill assume the proper positions. The time at which the aligning actionis performed is substantially at the time the pin is co-acting with thelower dwell -5 in the slot of cam plate 5B. It should also be observedthat the plate is adjustably mounted on the key frame 25 so that whenthe parts are assembled the plate 8% may be adjusted to the properposition to effect the desired align ment of the slides 34 and 38. Thenby tightening the screws 8! the plate may be held locked in thisposition. The plate as may be re-adjusted at any time if it does notfunction properly thus taking care of any changes that might occur inthe mechanism due to natural wear of the cooperating parts.

Indicating mechanism A novel form of mechanism is provided where by theitems registered by the machine are indicated. Fitting within a slot 85formed in the upper end of each of the slides 38 is a stud. 86 (Figs. 1and i) carried by a rack member 8'! the teeth of which co-operate with apinion 33 attached to a cam as having a cam slot 98 formed in itsperiphery. A spring-pressed aligning pawl BI is adapted to engage theinterdental spaces of each pinion 88 to hold the cam 89 in any of itsadjusted positions.

Fig. 1 illustrates the position that the parts assume when no key in theparticular bank shown was depressed during the preceding operation. Whenthe slide 38 is moved downwardly to a position determined by the valueof the key depressed the upper end of the slot 85 co-acting with thestud will draw the rack member 8! downwardly and through the pinion 88will adjust the cam member 83 accordingly. However, if the amount lastregistered has left the stud 3% in such a position in the slot 85 thatthe movement of the slide is not sufficient to permitthe upper end ofthe slot to contact with the stud 85 and draw the rack ll to the newposition it will be clear that the upper end of the slide it willcontact with the stud 86 to force it upwardly and adjust the rack memberto the position de sired.

It will be noted that the upper end of the slide 34 and the upper end ofthe slot formed in the slide 38, are so shaped that they may suitablyengage opposite sides of the, stud as to If the precise properre1apositively move it from one position to the other and at a certainpoint in the operation to clamp the stud between them. When the rackmember S? has been adjusted to its new position it will be held in suchposition by means of the holding pawl 9i. This will permit thecomplementally moved slides and 288 to be restored to normal withoutdisturbing the position. of the rack member Since the rack member isalways left in its adjusted position it will be obvious that the rackand connected parts are moved positively directly from one position tothe other without being restored to a constant or normal positionthereby eliminating to a great extent the wear these parts and a jar intheir movement, as

Well as reducing the power required.

The cam slot til to receive the roller i ifi (Figs. 1, 3, and 41-)carried by an indicator stop arm 92 which is pivotally mounted on ablock 93. The upper end of the indicator stop arm is bent as shown inFig. 3, so that it may cooperate with one of a series of stop lugs 94attached to the associated indicator drum 95 It will be noted that whilethe stop lugs 94 are equally spaced circumferentially about theperiphery of the indicator drum 95 they are at difierent distances fromthe edges of the indicator drums. The result of this construction isthat the end of the indicator stop arm $2 which is shifted transverselyof the drum by rotation of q The gear 43 (Fig. 1) previously describedis adapted to mesh with an idler gear 96 which meshes with a similargear 97 which in turn. is adapted to cause a rotative movement of alarger gear i8 loosely carried by a stud 98E. Attached to the gear 88 isa disk 98 provided with teeth around approximately half of its peripheryand adapted to mesh with teeth formed on a mutilated gear H18 fast to adrive shaft llll. It will be noted that the gear I60 is provided with aprojection lilfi which has its outer surface concentric with respect tothe stud llfil and is normally adapted to co operate with the peripheryof the disk 99 thus forming in effect a Geneva lock to normally look theshaft Mil. The train of gearing just described is such that a completerotation of the gear 43 and therefore two revolutions of the crankhandle 4! will produce a single rotation of the disk 95 but since thedisk 99 may be rotated to a certain extent, substantially 180, beforeits gear teeth cooperate with the teeth of the gear iiii'i this idlemovement will permit the disk 9% to be moved independently of the gearI00 and the latter will remain locked by the Geneva action. The lostmotion between these two members thus provided is such that the shaftIt]! will only be driven during the second half cycle of the machinewhen the gear teeth on the disk 99 will mesh with the teeth of the gearI00.

Rigidly secured to the shaft I!!! are a series of collars #62 (Fig. 4)each of which has attached thereto a spider comprised of bent springfingers which are adapted to press against the side of the associatedindicator drum 85, it being understood that the friction between theends of the spring fingers and the indicator drum in each case issufficient so that rotative movement of the shaft lt l will cause asimilar movement of all the indicators so long they are free to turn butwhen an indicator is stopped by the co-operation of one of itsperipheral lugs with its related indicator stop arm 92 that indicatorwill be stopped but the shaft I 68 and the spiders I93 will continuetheir rotative movement.

The operation or" the above described mechanism is as follows: Duringthe first part of the cycle of the operation of the machine,substantially 120 of rotation of shaft 44, the rack members 81 will beadjusted by the compleinentally moved slides thereby rotating the gear88 and the cam members 39 so that the cam 38 in co-operation with theroller 9 I U will shift the indicator stop arm 92 to such a positionthat it will be in the path of the desired lug $4 on the indicator drum.The detent 9i will serve to retain the parts in the new position ofadjustment. During this operation of the machine and a part of thesucceeding period the gear 43 will drive the gear 95 and through thegear 97 meshing with the gear 98, the disk 99 will be rotated to bringits teeth into co-operative relationship with the teeth of the gear I08by the end of the first half cycle of the machine. When the teeth on thedisk 99 rotate the gear I09 during the second half of the cycle ofoperation the spring-pressed fingers I 83 will drive each of theindicator drums until the vari ously positioned indicator stop arms 92cooperating with the stop lugs 94 of the indicator drums will preventthem from being rotated further and will hold the indicator drums sothat at the end of the second half of the cycle of operation all theindicators will be adjusted to indicate the amounts registered undercontrol of the different denominational groups of keys.

In the event that no key in a bank is depressed the stop arm 92 will beshifted, if it is not already there, so that it cooperates with the stoplug corresponding to the Zero mark on the indicator drum.

While the cams 45 are so designed that the plates 58 and hence thecomplemental slides 34 and 38 will be returned toward normal aftersubstantially 120 rotation and these parts will be fully restored afterabout 240 rotation of shaft 44 the racks 81 and cam members 89 will beheld in adjusted position by means of detents SI so that the stop arms92 will remain in proper positions to arrest the indicator drums asdesired.

The gearing for driving the shaft Ifii and the spiders I93 is sodesigned that they are given a complete revolution at each operation ofthe machine. This is to insure that an indicator may, whenevernecessary, receive nine steps of movement which, in the embodimentshown, is the maximum required. It will be clear that when an indicatoris to remain in t 1e same position as in a preceding operation the stoparm 52 will remain in the path of the same lug 94 and no movement willbe imparted to the indicator drum. If the new indication in a particularorder is to be one higher than the previous indication the indicatordrum will be given just one step of move ment. The maximum movement ofthe drum, nine-tenths of a revolution, will be required when the newindication is one less than the previous indication. When the machine isoperated rapidly there may be some danger of slight slippage between thespring-fingers and the ind-icator drums before the indicators arestopped by their stop arms but this should never exceed 36 of angularmovement so that by giving a complete rota-tion to the shaft Edi amovement of nine steps of the indicator drums will always be insured.Obviously if it is found necessary or desirable the shaft I 8! might begiven a greater movement than a full rotation in order to completelyavoid any danger of not carrying the indicators nine steps.

As best shown in Fig. l the entire machine is enclosed by a cabinet I04which is apertured so that the indicators may be viewed through theglass I05. In the illustrative machine the indicators are adopted todisplay the amounts registered only toward the front but if desiredthese drums might be enlarged to carry twenty figures with one set often visible from the front and the others from the rear or a second setof drums suitably coordinated with those illustrated, by means Wellknown in the art, might be provided. A lid I09 which is normally lockedserves to conceal the totalizer wheels but may be opened to permitreading of the totals.

General summary of operation The operation will doubtless be understoodfrom the foregoing but it may be briefly recapitulated to render thesequential action of the various parts clear in the relations which theybear to each other.

It will be assumed, for example, that it is desired to register andindicate an amount of 50. It will, therefore, be necessary to depressonly the 5 key in the dimes denominational group of keys and when the 5key is depressed against the resistance of the spring 29 (Fig. 5) thecoaction of the upper edge of the opening 21 of the key with the bevelededge of the hook portion 26 of detent 25 will move the detent upwardlyagainst the resistance of the spring 30 (Fig. 7 When the operated key isdepressed sufiiciently the spring will act to carry the hook portioninto the opening 3I formed in the stem of the depressed key, therebylocking the key in depressed position. When the detent is operated theupper end co-acting with the pin 59 (Fig. 7) will rock the zero stop 58so as to disengage the lug 60 from the projection 39s of the dimes slide38 thus unlocking the latter for operation. It will be noted, however,that since no key in the units order has been depressed the locking lug60 of the zero stop 58 for that order will remain in engagement with theprojection 398 of the associated slide 38 so that this particular slidewill remain locked against operation, as will the slides of hundreds andhigher orders.

After the necessary key or keys have been depressed a further operationof the machine consists in operating the crank handle 4I (Fig. 1) givingthe latter two complete revolutions to perform the functions or"registering and indicating the amount set up. As the crank handle 4| isturned the gear 42 will drive the gear 43 thereby rotating the shaft 44so that the pair of box cams 45 will rock the frame comprising the sidearms 41 and the cross rod 48 whereby the latter is raised. As the rod 48is elevated its co-operation with the slot 49 or" the cam plate 56associated with the units denominational order will rock the cam plateabout the pin 5I from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shownin Fig. 8. It will be observed that since the slide 38 is locked againstmovement by the zero stop 58, elevation of the rod 48 in causing the camslot 54 to co operate with the pin 56 will cause the slide 34 to beforced upwardly until it assumes the position shown in Fig. 8 wherein itwill be noted that the ends of the rectangular slots formed in the slide34 have engaged the supporting bars 32 thereby stopping movement of theslide after it has received the maximum movement of 9 steps.

Simultaneously, elevation of the rod 48 will also rock the cam plate(Fig. 7) associated with the dim s denominational order, but since inthis instance the slide 38 is unlocked for operation due to thedisengagement of the lug of the associated zero stop 59 from theprojection 39s, the co-operation of the cam slot 54 with the pin 53 willforce the slide 38 in a direction which is the reverse of the movementimparted at the same time to the slide t? and as the slides moverelative to each other the slide 34 will be stopped when the projection364 strikes one side of the stem of the 5 key and the slide 38 will bemoved until its projection 395 strikes the opposite side of thedepressed key (see Fig. '7). Therefore, it Will be noted that while theslide 34 received four steps of movement the slide 38 received fivesteps of movement commensurate with the value of the key depressed.

During the rotation of the crank handle 4! the gear 42 (Fig. 1) willdrive the gear 15 through the intermediate gears 11 and 18 so as to givethe shaft 74 a revolution and by the action of the cam ll (Fig. 2) uponthe roller carried by the tota izer engaging plate tit, said plate willbe rocked counter-clockwise (as viewed in Fig. 2) so that the cam slot:2 will rock the totalizer frame 68 to bring the totalizer pinions 55into engagement with the actuating racks at substantially the time thedimes rack has been moved to its differential or 5 position. It will benoted that the cam H is provided with a dwell for about 120 after whichthe camming surface to act on the plate 59 begins. In the case underdiscussion, the actuating rack 55 associated with the units order hasreceived no movement so that the units totalizer pinion iii; will bemeshed with its rack while the latter is at normal.

At substantially one third of the revolution of the shafts M and "H3, atwhich time the rod 48 approaches its extreme upper position which isjust prior to the time the totalizer pinions are engaged with theactuator racks 65 the aligning teeth l8 of the several plates 53 (Figs.7 and 8) will be forced into the aligning slots '19 of the adjustingplates 89 thus insuring the proper positioning cf the parts and, if theyare out of correct alignment, it will result in shifting the cam plates58 and slides 34 and 38 into their proper positions. At the time atwhich the aligning operation is performed each pin 55 is coacting withthe dwell 55 of the cam slot formed in its related cam plate 58.

If the amount last registered by the units denominational order was Zerothe associated pin 86 (Fig. 1) would have been, at the beginning of theoperation now being considered, in such a position as to co-operate withthe upper end of the slot 35 formed in the slide 38 in which positionthe stop arm 92 has its engaging end in cooperation with the stop lug 94related to the zero mark on the indicator drum G5. This is also theposition the parts will assume after the first third or" the operationof the machine under the conditions specified. Therefore, as far theunits denominational order is concerned movement of the slide to itsmaximum. position will merely cause it to contact the pin withoutshifting the rack member 37, earn. 89 or stop arm 92.

If, however, the amount r gistered in the dimes dewminational orderduring the previous transaction should also have been zero, it will beobserved that when the slide 38 is moved clownwardly a distance of fiveunits, as described for priated to the 5 indicia on the indicator drumassociated with the dimes denominational order.

During the time that the indicator stop arms 92 are being adjusted tothe proper positions, which as previously stated, is during the firstthird of a cycle of operation, the gear 43 will drive the pinions and 9"so that the latter will drive the gear 98 and the disk 99 out duringthis time the periphery of the disk co-operating with the projection H35of the gear toil, will lock the shaft Hi5) against rotation.

During the second of the three periods into which the operation of themachine may be roughly divided the pairs of slides 3d and 38 associatedwith the different not ational orders will be returned to the ormalpositions. Thus the rod 48 will at this tine e restored to its lowerposition and it will rock the cam plate 50 associated with the unitsdenominational order so that by co-operation of the cam slotwith. thepin 56 the slide 34 will be brought to its normal position. The slide 38will, of course, have remained at normal throughout. Simultaneously thecam plate 5% associated with the dimes denominational order will also berestored:

so that by co-operation of the related pin. 55 with the cam slot 54 theslides 36 and 38 for this order will be restored to their normalpositions. During the time that the slide associated with the dimesdenominational order is being restored the rack teeth 55 will rotate thedimes totalizer pinion 65 giving the associated totalizer wheel 65? arotative movement of 5 units whereby five will be added to this element.At the extreme end of this phase of the operation of the machine the camedges 332i (Fig. l) of the hooks 5?. formed on the several cam 58 willco-act with the red 53 thereby readjusting the cam plates 34 and 38 ifthey are not already brought to their proper positions. that the actionof the diiiferential elements those orders above the d mes denomi a inwhich no keys have been depressed will be we cisely the same asdescribed for the units order elements.

During the time that the slide associated with the dimes denominationalorder was returned to its normal position the ali ning pawl 9| co-actingwith the teeth of the pinion 88 served to hold the stop arm 92 in itsadjusted position which, in the present instance, was such that theindicator stop arm was in alignment with the stop lug 95 associated withthe 5 indicia on the dimes indicator drum 5&5.

It is to be noted that while the operation of the machine is dividedinto three periods of apthe disks d9 calls for only two per which issubstantially until the beginning of the second rota-hon oi crank handleat that the teeth on the disk (Fig. 1) will co-operate with the teeth ofthe gear H15 thereby driving the shaft till so that the spring-pressedfingers 23 will drive all the It will be understood indicator drumssimultaneously in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. l. Theindicator drum associated with the dimes denominational order will berotated until the stop lug 94 associated with the 5 indicia co-operateswith the related indicator stop arm 92 thereby preventing that indicatorfrom being further rotated. At this time the 5 indicia will be broughtto such position that it may be viewed through the indicator glass [05.

Since the indicator stop arm 92 associated with the units denominationalorder is already in alignment with the stop lug 94 associated with the 0indicia, under the conditions assumed, the indicator drum S5 for thisorder will be held against movement from the start so that as the shafti0! is rotated the spider 103 will merely slide around the side wall ofthe indicator drum without changing the position of the latter.

As before stated the cam stop in the cam H so formed that the totalizerwill be rocked into mesh with the racks 55 after about one third or" thecycle of the machine has been completed and it will be held in meshduring the succeeding third of the cycle. At the end of this secondperiod in the cycle, however, the cam U will rock the totalizer engagingplate 69 (Fig. 2) reversely so that the totalizer frame will be rockedabout its pivotal point to bring the totalizer pinions 65 out of meshudth the actuating racks 55. It is at this. point or during the finalperiod of the operation of the machine that the transfer mechanism isoperated by the cams l9"! car ied by shaft 74. Thus if the additions inany of the orders of the totalizer served to carry the wheels from 9 to0 or beyond certain elements, such as those fully disclosed in theFuller application mentioned, would be partially rotated and thesubsequent operation of cams it)! after the to talizer has beendisengaged from the racks would complete the carry and restore thetransfer elements.

For the purpose of operating the key detent 25 so that the 5 key will bepermitted to be returned to its normal position under the influence ofthe spring 29 the cam 255i secured to the shaft 14 is provided and thisis adapted to rock the arms 262 carrying rod 263 to cause the latter toforce the detent rearwardly, thus permitting the machine to beconditioned for the entry of subsequent items. Therefore, it will beobserved that at the end of the operation of the machine the totalizerwill have received an entry of 0.50 and the indicator drums will beadjusted to indicate this amount.

It will be seen that the construction herein shown and described isadmirably adapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated. It is to beunderstood that the inventions herein described are susceptible ofembodiment in many other forms which will be obvious to those skilled inthe art, hence in the claims which follow essential elements are recitedwithout limitations as to details of construction.

Furthermore, many or the features herein disclosed may be applied to theother structures either in part, or in whole. The novel aligning devicesfor the actuators may be used in connection with other types and formsof differential devices and used with similar benefits and advantages.That part of the invention which relates to the means for determiningthe position of the indicating or similar devices in a cash register oranalogous machine in such a manner as to obviate restoration of thedetermining means to zero in each operation, does not depend upon theparticular method shown for its proper functioning, since it will beobvious to those skilled in the art that the determining means may beused in connection with other forms of differential devices.

While the novel positioning devices have been shown in connection withindicators it will be obvious that the same mechanism may be used forother purposes such as adjusting type carriers and where the term digitcarrier appears in some of the claims it is intended to cover any formof device which by its different positions designates different values,such as, an indicator, a type carrier, or a registering element of atotalizer.

While the form of mechanism herein described is admirably adapted tofulfill the objects primarily stated it is to be understood that it isnot intended to confine the invention to the one form of embodimentherein shown, since it may be embodied in various forms, all comingwithin the scope of the claims which follow:

What is claimed is:

1. In an accounting machine, the combination of a plurality of stopmembers, a pair of longitudinally movable members adapted to cooperatewith the stop members, said members having a constant aggregate movementon each operation of the machine, a plate fulcrumed on one of said pairof members, a cam slot and stud connection between the plate and theother of the pair of members, and an operating device for said plate.

2. In an accounting machine, the combination of two differentiallymovable members, a row of keys cooperating directly with the members forlimiting the movement thereof, a connecting device between said members,a slot formed in the connecting device, a rod engaging the slot, and anoperating member having excursions of invariable extents during alloperations of the machine for operating the rod and the connectingdevice whereby the members are moved differentially.

3. In an accounting machine, the combination of a pair of relativelymovable members each provided With a plurality of stops, a series ofmanipulative means cooperating directly with said stops, a connectingdevice comprising a plate fulcrumed on one member and having a pin and acam sur face connection with the remaining member, and means foractuating the plate so as to move the members in opposite directionsuntil one of the stops of each member cooperates with an operatedmanipulative means.

4. In an accounting machine, the combination of a pair of shiftablemembers each provided with a plurality of stops, a series ofmanipulative devices cooperating directly with said stops, and a camplate connecting the members for shifting the members until one of thestops carried by each cooperates With the operated manipulative device.

5. In an accounting machine, the combination of a pair of shiftablemembers each provided with a plurality of stops, a series ofmanipulative devices cooperating directly with said stops, a floatingcam plate for shifting the members until one of the stops on each membercooperates with an operated manipulative device, said plate serving alsoto restore said members to normal.

6. In an accounting machine, the combination of a pair of shiftablemembers each provided with a plurality of stops, a series ofmanipulative members cooperating with said stops, a cam plate forshifting the members until one of the stops on each member cooperateswith the operated manipulative member, said plate serving also torestore said members to normal, and means formed on said platecomprising a cam edge cooperating With a fixed rod for aligning saidmembers in normal position.

7. In an accounting machine, the combination of a pair of shiftablemembers each provided with a plurality of stops, a series ofmanipulative members cooperating with said stops, a reciprocable cammember for shifting the members until one of the stops carried by eachmember cooperates with the operated manipulative member and meanscarried by said cam member and cooperating with fixed elements forre-adjusting the shiftable members during the movement of the cam memberin both directions.

8. In an accounting machine, the combination of a pair of shiftablemembers each provided with a plurality of stops, a series ofmanipulative mem bers cooperating With said stops, a reciprocable cammember for shifting the members until one of the stops carried by eachmember cooperates with an operated manipulative member and meansassociated with the cam member for readjusting the shiftable membersduring the move ment of the cam member in both directions.

9. In an accounting machine, the combination with an operating devicefor an accounting element, of means for limiting differentially themovement of said device, means for positioning the operating devicedifferentially, and an aligning means carried by the positioning meansfor correcting an inaccurate positioning of the operating device.

10. In an accounting machine, the combination of an accounting element,a plurality of shiftable members one of which includes a driving meansfor said accounting element, a cam member for moving the shiftablemembers relative to each other and thereby positioning the drivingmeans, and aligning means carried by the cam member for re-adjusting theshiftable members to correct an inaccurate positioning of the drivingmeans.

11. In an accounting machine, the combination with a plurality ofshiftable members, one of which includes a driving means for anaccounting element, a cam member for moving the shiftable membersrelative to each other and thereby positioning the driving means, meansfor readjusting the shiitable members to correct an inaccuratepositioning of the driving means, said means including a fixed memberhaving aligning slots and an aligning tooth carried by the aligningmember adapted to cooperate with the aligning slots in the fixed member.

12. In an accounting machine, the combination of a plurality of stops,an operating device differentially positioned under control of thestops, a pivoted member rockable for differentially actuating theoperating device, and means controlled by and operated during therocking movement of the pivoted member for aligning the operatingdevice.

13. In an accounting machine, the combination of a plurality of stops,an operating device differentially positioned under control of thestops,

a pivoted member for differentially actuating the operating device, andmeans carried by the pivoted member cooperating with an aligning platefor correcting any inaccurate positioning of the operating device.

14. In an accounting device, the combination of an accounting deviceactuator, a member for driving the actuator diiferentially, an aligningmeans, and means carried by said member cooperating With the aligningmeans to correct an inaccurate positioning of the actuator, one of saidmeans being adjustably mounted.

15. In an accounting machine, the combination of difierentiallyadjustable members, means to move the members complementary extentslongitudinally of each other, the means including a plate pivoted on onemember and having a cam surface formed therein cooperating with aprojecting element carried by the other adjustable member, and anoperating device for actuating the plate.

16. In a machine of the class described, two slidable members lying inparallel planes, a plate pivoted on one member and connected to theother by a pin and cam slot. actuating means connected to the plate, andstop means cooperating with the members to limit movement of the latter,the parts being so proportioned and arranged that a movement of theactuating means causes the members to move complementary extents throughthe camming action of the slot and under the control of the stop means.

ALLEN A. DICKE.

